Heat kills 3, warning issued for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Heat claimed three lives in Srikakulam district on Wednesday. The deceased, who suffered sunstrokes, have been identified as G. Malleswara Rao, 67, from Ragolu, K. Appala Swamy, 55, of Penasam village and A. Rama Murthy, 66, from Santhabommali mandal in the district.

Sunstroke deaths are on the rise in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh due to persistent high temperatures along with the heatwave.

As many as 27 persons, including 11 NREGS labourers, died of sunstroke in the last 45 days in the Adilabad district alone. IMD sources said the heatwave will continue.

A heatwave warning has been issued for all districts of TS and East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore districts of Coastal AP and for the next two days.

The temperature in Nizamabad touched 46ºC on Wednesday and in Ramagundam it crossed 45ºC. Vijayawada recorded the highest temperature in AP with 45.4ºC on Wednesday.

Dry weather will prevail in all districts of Coastal AP and TS till Sunday, said Narasimha Rao, assistant meteorologist, IMD, Hyderabad. Cool breeze can, however, be expected in the morning hours because the period before sunrise is the coolest.

“Farm labourers and those who work in the open in the afternoon are vulnerable to heatstrokes. If the body temperature rises to 104°F it means the person has already neglected initial symptoms,” said general physician at Apollo Dr H. Kishan.

According to the IMD, there will be no respite from the heat till the end of this month. Mr Rao said people are advised to stay indoors between 2 pm-3pm.